Shifting pole for vehicles



(No Model.)

J. T. OLARKSON.

SHIPTING POLE FOR VEHIGLES.

No. 300,848. Patented June 24, 1884.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH 'I- GLARKSON, OF AMESBURY, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF TO FRANK A. BABoooK, OF SALISBURY, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHIFTING 'POLE FOR VIEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 300,848, dated June 24, 1884.

Application filed February 9, 1884. (No model To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH T. OLARKsoN, of Amesbury, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Shifting Poles for Vehicles, which will, in connection with the accompanying drawings, be hereinafter fully described, and specifically defined in the appended claims.

This invention relates to that class of light carriage-poles which are interchangeable with carriage-shafts, whereby the same vehicle may be harnessed to either one or two horses,as may be desired; and the invention consists in the construction and combination of the divers devices embodied therein, as will, in connection with the accompanying drawings, be hereinafter more particularly and fully described and claimed. 4

In said drawings, Figure 1 is atop or planview of the rear portion of the pole and connections. Fig. 2 is an inverted plan or under side view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is atransverse section taken as on line A A, Fig. 1, and as looking to the right in said figure. Fig. 4. is a Section, as on line B, throughthe cross-bar and the rear part of the pole. Fig. 5 is a detached enlarged under sideview, showing the central portion of parts shown in Fig. 2.

In said views, a represents the pole, and b the usual curved cross-bar securedtransversely thereto. Said cross-bar is re-enforced by a plate of metal, (shown at j, Figs. 3, 4,) which is secured to b by the countersunk headed bolts i, secured by screw-nuts seated upon the top of the bar, as shown in Figs. 1, 3. Said cross-bar is also strengthened by the usual stays, c, which at their respective ends are secured to said bar and the p ole, and are supported by the branches (1, also secured to the pole. The eyes 6, by which the pole is attached to the shackles of the carriage, are formed with the usual rounded shank or arm, f, which merges into a broadened plate, 9, which latter at its inner portion is reduced to one-half its width, as at h, and at the inwardly-facing edges are formed with teeth, which are engaged by corresponding teeth out upon the lower portion of stud s, which is inserted in bar I) at the junction of the pole therewith. Said stud is secured in place by screw t,which screw is threaded in the lower end of said stud, as shown. Plates 9 are held in contact with plate j by the devices more clearly shown in Fig. 3,where a strap-bolt, k, is SllOWII as formed on stay 0,while asimilar strap-bolt, 7c, is secured on bolt Z, and a bar, m, through which bolts k pass, bears against plate 9, while a plate of rubber, a, seated on plate m, is compressed thereon with the requisite force by yoke 19, secured on said bolts k 7y by screwnuts, as shown, by which devices a pressure of plates 9 against re-enforce j of the requisite degree and of elastic nature is secured, that pre vents vibration or rattling of plates 9, yet allows their being lineally actuated by means of Stud 8 and a wrench, 12, when applied thereon,

-to adjust eyes 6 at the requisite distance apart to enter the shackles secured upon the axle of the vehicle. At the center of bar I) the toothed portion h of plates gare held against re-enforce plate j by plate u-and stud s, with its securingscrew 25, as shown in Figs-2 and 4.. By my in vention the distance apart of eyes 6 can be readily adjusted by merely applying a wrench to stud s and rotating the same in the proper direction, and this without disturbance of any of the other parts.

Instead of rubber n, a short curved steel spring may be arranged between yoke 19 and bar m to hold plate 9 firmly but not rigidly against re-enforcej; or, if preferred, such steel spring may be arranged directly between said yoke 19 and plate g without the intervention of bar on, which latter is required when rubber a is employed to prevent the abrasion thereof when plates 9 arelineallyactuated as described.

I claim as my invention-* 1. In a shifting carriage-pole, the combina tion of plates 9, having their outer ends formed to be secured to the carriage-shackles, and at their inner ends with racks h, and a toothed stud, 8, arranged to engage said racks and line ally actuate said plates, substantially as speci fied.

tion of plates g, formed with racks h, toothed Stud 8, arranged to engage said racks, confining-platen, and securing-screw t, substantially as specified.

3. In a shifting carriage-pole,'the combination of re-enforce plate 3, secured to bar I), adjustable plates 9, strap-bolts k 76, bars an, elastic blocks a, and yokes 19, arranged to confine 2. In a shifting carriage-pole, the combinawhereby they may be simultaneously moved to adjust their ends 6 at the required distance 15 apart, substantially as specified.

6. In an adjustable carriage-pole, the combination,with bar 12 and its re-enforce plate j, of lineally-adjustable plates 9, with devices to hold them in contact with plate j by an elastic 20 pressure, substantially as specified.

v JOSEPH T. CLARKSON.

Witnesses:

JAS. W. TAYLOR, GEORGE H. BRIGGS. 

